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Pie isn't ready to rejoin O's in Boston

Pie isn't ready to rejoin O's in Boston

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BALTIMORE -- Both the Orioles and Felix Pie were optimistic that the energetic outfielder could rejoin the team in Boston, however, that isn't going to happen.

"He needs a few more games," said Baltimore president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, who didn't rule out the possibility of Pie -- who is dealing with an upper back strain -- being activated for Monday's series in Detroit.

"[Pie] needs a little more time, so when he gets up there he'll be ready," MacPhail said.

Pie, who moved his rehab to Double-A Bowie on Tuesday night, played nine innings in the field for the second time and went 4-for-5 with a double and a run scored in Bowie's 6-5 win. He played left field and went 1-for-4 with a walk in Wednesday's game.

"We would like to see him play the outfield and throw some more if he's going to come up and step right into the lineup right away," Orioles interim manager Juan Samuel said.

Pie was hopeful that he would be ready for Friday, and told MLB.com on Tuesday that he was in no pain and had no trouble throwing.

"Right now, the hardest thing is seeing pitches [at the plate]," Pie said. "But that will come with more and more [at-bats]."

Still, given how long Pie has been sidelined -- he was placed on the 60-day disabled list April 16 -- Samuel said the organization will be cautious in making sure the outfielder is 100 percent.

"An area where they're being a little more cautious with him is his throwing, that's probably the one that's been the slowest [to come around]," Samuel said. "I would like to see him take more infield, throw. He is hitting the ball.

"But we have to understand, we're almost halfway through the season and this is kind of his Spring Training right now. We have to be very careful so whenever he's here he's ready to help us."

An energetic presence, Pie was hitting .400 with two doubles, a homer and an RBI in eight games before hitting the DL. Without second baseman Brian Roberts (herniated disc in lower back), the expectation is Pie will assume the bulk of the Orioles leadoff duties when he returns.